The author of this verse paraphrase of Psalm 124 is Justus Jonas (1493-1555), also known as Jodocus Koch, was born in Nordhausen (Harz Region), became Canon and Priest in Erfurt, later a professor at the University in Wittenberg, where he joined the Reformation. Knowledgeable in ancient languages, he worked alongside Luther on Bible translations. In 1542, as a supporter of the Reformation, he held an important position in Halle at the Liebfrauen Church, but was driven away there as a result of the Schmalkaldian War. After that, and until his death, he experienced turbulent years. In 1555, when Jonas died, he was a Superintendent of Church and School matters in Eisfeld (County of Hildburghausen).

The Melody:

Zahn: 4441a | EKG: 193

The earliest appearance of this melody is in Geistliche Lieder (edited by Joseph Klug), Wittenberg, 1529 (there are no more copies of this book extant at the present time to verify this listing).

Here are some examples of this melody as notated over a century later in a hymnal from the 17th century and from Samuel Scheidt’s 4-pt setting of it:

Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost | EKG:Authors: David Spaiser (Verse 1, 1521) and Johann Gigas (Verses 2-6, 1561)[The reference in BWV Verzeichnis to David Spaiser uses not ‘von’ but ‘bei’ David Spaiser This means, in German, that he is not identified as the author of the CT (although there is always the slight possibility that he might have been) but rather as the editor of the collection he had had published. In that collection, verse 1 already appears and it is not by Johann Gigas.]